Donkey kisses net $800 for Relay for Life team from county employees
By Steve Herring
Published in News on May 1, 2009 1:46 PM
News-Argus/MITCH LOEBER
Vicki Falconer, left, Sandy Davis and James Smith eat at the Wayne County Employee Appreciation picnic at Herman Park Thursday.
Some people will do just about anything for money, including kissing a donkey. But in this case, county employees were willing to pucker up for a good cause, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.
County employees Thursday during their annual Employee Appreciation Picnic raised $800 for Terrell's Tornadoes Relay For Life team. The team is named in memory of former county personnel director Joe Terrell, who died of cancer in 2002.
The picnics have been held for the last four or five years as a way to recognize county employees said Sue Guy, Wayne County human resources director.
"It's just a way to have a little fun, but be serious and raise money for Relay For Life," she said.
No tax dollars are used for the picnics, she said. The money comes from donations and from revenues generated by vending machine sales in county offices.
Holding the picnic at noon makes it easier for more county employees to attend, Ms. Guy said.
Wayne Benton, an employee in the Department of Social Services (DSS), brought his 2-week-old donkey to the picnic held at Herman Park.
Employees nominated and then voted on the employee they wanted to kiss the donkey. The top vote-getters had to kiss the donkey.
The winner was John Hatchen, who also works in DSS. Runners-up were EMS employee Trey Rhodes, Sheriff Carey Winders and Director of Emergency Services Joe Gurley.